Self-playing musical instrument.



L. H. MAIER.` SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1906.-

Patented June 14,1910.`

L. H. MAIER.

SELF PLAYING MUSIGAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLIGATION FILED 11.13.22, 190e.

Patented June 14,1910.

R SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L. H. MAIER. SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLIUATION FILED MAR. z2, 1906.

Pateted June 14, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Louis n. iii/Amr., or Nnwvonx, N. Y., AssiGNon rro JOHN H. LUDWIG, `or* f NEW'YORK, N. er.

senr-PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

ing musical ycompositions yin -selt `playing musical instruments ato theend thatlnotes produced in different groups or individual notes ofthe instrument may be Y degree of tone Aas desired.

of. improvement that will be more fully hereinafter set forth and fthen-pointedout in the claims.

ing drawings forming part- Ahereof, wherein, front view illustrating .my` showing wind inducing .apand yother parts,1

Figure 1 is ii'nprovements, paratus, and its :channels Fig. 2 is a sectional view of expression valve 55, etc., Fig. 3 Iis a `detail section, enlarged,`

of valve Acontrolli-ng devicel 68, Fig. Jl is a detail section of a `con-trollingdevice, shown` in Fig. 1. Fig. f5 is a detail `face view` thereof; Fig. `6 is a perspective view of a 'tension controlling bellows; Figs. 7 vand `8 are-endviews thereof, looking from the left in Fig. G,

`showing -diii'erent positions of collapse of .thel bellows; Fig. y9 is `a section substantially `on the line T9, 19 in Fig. 6.. in Fig.v Fig. 11 `is a partly sectional detail rview 4of the valve'wind-chest and connections.-

Fig. 10 is a section onthelline 10, 10 9'.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line v`12, 1,2 intFig. 1 showing associated channels;

similar view of ra modification thereof..-

Figs. l5 and 16 indicate music sheets'.

imilar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the .several views.'

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates, generally, al chest, which is indicated as into channels 2, 3,4, 45, i6, 6"., 7 and 8, as indicated in Figs. 1, 13,and 14.. At 9 are suitable foot bellows,` hewn and i connected with the main Aexhaust chan- Specication of Letters Patent.

nected yby pipes 12,

notes above in varied in` middle G note next `atthe left of G;t}:,and, The invention comprises the novel details' be understood that 4said .arran Reference is to bejhad to the Yaccompanythe `foot :bellows and thef Fig. 13 is a detail view l. enlarged illustratingthe ports connecting,

having treadle .10, `(see Fig. 412) nel 2, and at 11 is an equalizing chamber or `bellows connected with channel 2, all in any well lniown'maiiner', whereby exhaust may be maintained in channel 2. The channels 3, 6, 6X, and -7 are respectively icon 13, 14 and 15 with the suction chest 16 for the operating pneumatics, provided with separate :chambers 16a, 16.1, 1Gc and 16d. Said chambers areadapt- `ed'to control vdifferent groups of notes `of `a pianoaction, corresponds to `middle G# and, say, 'nine the treble' scale.; the chamber lavcorresponds -rto the remaining higher `treble notes; the chamber 16c corresponds to .the

say 4nine .notes to .the left in the upper fbass, and Vthe chamber 16 corres onds -to the yemaining 4lower notes in the ass, fbut it will gement 'of groups of notes .or keys of the instrument may bers if desired.

Patented-J une 14C, 1910,. Applicatomled March 22, 1906. `Serial No. 397,342. v

as, for instance, chamber `16" be `altered with respect to .said cham' l rovide means forregulating the -liow of air rom channel `8 to channel 2, by .an eexi `pression bellows,l and a regulating expres-A sion bellows controlling the air passing either from channel 4 to 5 or from 5 to 4. I

said relations, ,but'the air passing from-8 to 2 may 'be controlled by anywell known rexpression bellows. To this end I provide 'the devices lmore .fully shown-1in Figs. 6 'to .10 inclusive, `as ollows:-A suitalolelbellows.1"?I

,has its stationary `board 17a-attached to ythe `board 1a of the chest'l, and said bellows .is provided with an .interior board or blockv 18 .havingpassages 19, 2O that open .into theinterior of the ,bellows by side ports 19a, 20*l shown in F ig. 10, and whoseouter ports 19", 2Gb, communicate, respectively, with ports 2a, 8* of the channels 2 and f8 and a :similar bellows 17d has v'similar ports connected with ports 4, 5 of channelse and 5, res ectivel as indicated' in Fi f. 1. Within belows311A 1, pivoted vso `as to sli e along the sideoblock is,

have shown `similar bellows used in both is an adjustable :boardor valve :21 having passages 21, 2lb, .adapted to coast, respectively, with :the z orts19",f2`0a `in block'l.

A1122 a cut-c' or regulating valve `orplate is pivctally supported, (as by s'crewff which the `side of ai, 17b of bellows '17 to fout-off the ilowof fairalso supports the valve I21) and .is locatedSat valve 21 :so fas to cross the ports ,'21bduring thernovements of :the board lapse of said bellows. The valve 22 is shown lconnected by a link 24 and screw 25 with board' 17b so as to reciprocate 'wit-h said board;A and said screw 25 is made adjustable to vary the action of the valve 22 with respect to ports 21, 21b as desired. For this purpose I have vshown screw 25 passing through a block 26 on board 17b and provided with nuts 27, 28 for adjustment, a liexible or leather piece 29 connecting. the screw 25 with board 17a to prevent the passage of air while permitting adjustment of said screw. As the valve 22 reciprocates on an arc described around its axis 23, I have shown the port 2lb as arranged parallel with board 17 a., and the port 21El at an acute angle thereto, whereby -when bellows 17 `is eX- panded both of said ports may besubstanl v"vzptially equally uncovered by valve 22, and as the edge 22l of valve 22 crosses said ports, as the bellows is collapsed, said valve will cut -oii' said ports substantially in equal degree,

whereby the passage of air int-o and from the bellows through said ports may be mainf tained substantially equal in area during the reciprocations of valve 22. To adjust the position of valve 21 as desired with respect 'to valve 22 I` have shown an arm 30 connected with a rocksliaft' 31 suitably journaled, as in bearings A32, and having a crank 33 connected Vby a link 34 with an arm or lever 35, pivotally supported as at 36, and

' having lts upper end shown located adjacent the shelf 37 of a piano case (see Fig. l), whereby by adjusting lever 35 to the left or right of the central )ositionthe valve 21 will be moved upwar ly or downwardly in Fig. 9. lVhcn lever '35 is moved to the left valve 2l will be raised in Fig. 9 to produce the desired low tension, and when valve21 is moved down in Fig. 9 it will shift ports 21, 21b downwardly away from valve 22 for producing high tension exhaust, lever 35 being then moved to the right in Fig. 1. A leather piece 38 connected with arm 30 and with board 17a (see Fig. 9) prevents the passage of yair at opening 17c in board 17a. Arm 30 is shown secured to valve 21 by screw'f), At 40 is a piece of felt secured upon block 18 against which board 17b may bear to limit extreme collapse of the bellows. A clip 41 secured to block 18 and extending in `front of valve 21` keeps said valve against block 418, (see Fig. 10).

I have shown means to control the collapsing of bellows 17 and 17?, or in other words to regulate the degree of tension maintained i in the channels; as followsz-the spring 45 `bellows 1n well linown'manner, and at 46 is a isshownlin usnal-V-t'orin' connected with the frame or box consisting of side plates 46 having a block-47 provided with anotch 48 receiving the endof the spring, whereby the spring is covered on its edges and free to vivwedge 50, shown in tapering form, located between the leaves of the spring, and havin its apex facing the apex of the spring and o y' such width as to permit thespring to c0ntract freelyfor a suitable distance and to cause the leaves of the s ring to have increasing tension by gra ually bearin on wedge 50 as the bellows col-lapses. lien valve 2l is raised, say to its highest point, the spring 45 will be free to allow the bellows to collapse, and thereby the valve 22 will cut-off air from flowing through the ports 21, 21", whereby a decreased suction passes through the'bellows, producing low tension, and when valve 21 is raised, as

stated, the relation of wedge 50 to spring 45 is'such that it does not interfere with the collapsing of the bellows as the s ring will not engage the wedge .while such ow tension is being produced while valve 2 1 i" lraised. IThis condition is shown in Fig. 7, where the bellows is indicated as partly collapsed producing a decreased tension. lVhen valve 21 is moved down to its low limit (from its po# sition in Fig. 9) the ports 21, 21b are thus ad'usted lower from the high position of valve 22, and thereby during the c'olla sing of the bellows valve 22 will be checked in its descent by reason ,of the leaves of the spring 45 engaging wedge 50, and the ports 21", 21b will not be cut-oli' by valve 22 to so great a degree as before mentioned, and thereby the greatesttension of spring 45, increased by block or wedge 50, is caused to act on the bellows, thereby allowing the greatest quantity of 'exhaust or suction to pass through the ports 21a, 21" giving high tension exhaust in the cha nels. Intermediate positions of valve 21 cause varying exhaust in the channels to a greater or less degree, byl reasonof j the sooner or later contact of the leaves of the spring 45 with wedge 50.

From thevforegoing it will be understoodthat as the normal or intermediate exhaust tension from bellows 9 is beingdrawn from chamber 8 into chamber 2 such tension may be varied by moving arm'35 to the right or left and thereby shifting the'position of the valve 21 and its ports 21a and 21b with rela y iio tion to valve 22, the valve ,22 serving to cut oil both of said orts simultaneously in substantially equal t egree during the collapsing of bellows 17, 17d and thus the flow of air can be in either direction through the bellows and be equally controlled at all times because both ports can be controlled by valve 22. v f

-Toenable quickv fulltension from bellows 11 to be created in channel 8, irrespective of bellows 17, to suddenly increase the tension inthe operative pneumatics as desired, such as Vto suddenly accentuate a part of a composition being rendered, I provide the arrangeisb aanvalt ment shown in Figs. 1` and `2, as follows?- Fitted upon chest 1 is a block 55 having a chamber 55 Vand passages 55", 55c that comuricate with channels 8 and 2 respectively, a d'theicommunlcation between 55a and 55 -is controlled by a diaphragm 56 that is contI-'olled onone side by suction in channels 2 and 55 and on the opposite side by air in a chamber 57 that `communicates with the atmosphere through a normally open .valve carried by ya stem 59 having a bumper 60 op eratiiig with a diaphragm 61. The stem 5S) also has a Valve 62 norinallyiclosing a port or ports 63 that communicates with suction chamber 64 that is in communication with channel v55 by a passage 65 of the 'block shownbored in one corner, and beneath diaphragm 61 is achamber 66 thatis connected ,by a lpipe 67 with a ,controlling valve 68 .shown su orted at the'shelf 37. The valve 68 norma y 'closes pipe `67 and thereby the normal suction in chamber 6i keeps valve 62 closed 4and valve 58 open, whereby com muncation between channels 2 and 8 th'rough chamber 55a is normally cut 'oli by diaphragm .56. Valve l68 is shown having a valve head 69 and a block 170 receiving pipe 67, the end of which is controlled by valve 69, the latter `being held pressed against said pipeby aspring 171 acting on a thumb piece or push button 172 carried by stem 17 2X within the .shell 17s that'is carried by shelf 3'"- (see Fig. 3) Vvlhen the `button 172 is pressed,

valve 69 opens the end of ypipe 67 and the air thus entering chamber 66 through pipe 67 raises diaphragm `61 and opens valve 62 and closes valve 58, whereupon the suction then caused in chamber 57 through port 63 draws down diaphragm 56 and suddenly opens communication between channels 2 and t through 55", and ipth'us. throwing the high vtension exhaust of channel directly into communication with'channel tl to cause 'quick accentuation of a portion or portions of the composition beingrendered. 1V hen button 172 is released the valve 69 shuts pipe (37 and diaphragm 56 lthereupon closes communication between channels 2, 55a, and 8, which may then remain in the normal position, a bleed 67a being provided to drain the air in atmosphere.

To cause the channel 8 `to communicate at will with channels 8, 11, 5, y6,A 6K and 7 I propipe 67, Aafter it is closed at 69, to;

The arrangementis such that when valve 71 is shifted to the position shown-by dotted lines c in Figi?) the ports 3, 4 will be conneet-ed by cavity 71?; when valve 71 is `in the position shown by dotted lines b in said figure ports 3, fla' and (la will be connected by cavity 7N; when the valve is in the position shown by dotted lines c the ports la and (Sau will be connected, and when the valve isin the position shown by the dotted lines (l the reverse port 5a will be connected by cavity 71a with port 6b; other positions of valve 71, corresponding to those described onthe'right of F ig. 123, may be caused atrthe left, vto cause the cavity 71 to connect 'ports 5, `(3b y'and 7a in one instance, and ports .5a and. 7a

in thelast instance'.v When valve 71 is Vin central position `channel 8 communicates, through chamber 702L to all the Achannels specified simultaneously. Pefrts 4 and 5a serve as reverse ports because sometimes the reverse air current is in one direction and sometimes in i ther.

Shaft 72 of'yalve 71 ist; shown provided with an arm 74 connected by a lilik 7 5 with a crank 76 on Aafroek shaft 77, suitably journaled as in bearing 78,and provided with a crank 79connected by a link ySO with acrank S1, carried f'by a-...sleeve surrounding a shaft 83 `said sleeve boing shown provided with a pointer or operating linger SLi adapted to travel over an indicator 85 shown carried by shelf 37 and provided with holes 86 receiving a pin 87 to hold the pointer set. The shaft 83 carries a linger or pointer 8S to travel over an indicator plate SS) carried by shell 37. In Fig. 1 the indicators 85 and 8l) are shown in perspective for convenience of illustration, but may be parallel with shelf 37 as indicated in Figs. d and 5. Shaft 83 also has a crank arm Sl() connected by a linkv 11 with a crank 92 on a rocloshatt Sli-l, journaled in suitable bearings Slet, and having' a crank arm 95 adapted lo operaie Ia stem 30 that is similar to stcm 3() of bellows 17 and controlling.;` a valve, similar to valve 21 ot bellows 17, in `bellows 17l which is lconstructed in the marmer shown with respect to Figs. (l to 10 inclusive, the bellowsf17 l `being connected by its ports (such as 19, 20m) with the ports 4", 5C that communicate vwith channels 4, 5, Fig. 1), whcrcby'the tension in passing from -l to 5 or from 5 .to el may be decreased by said bellows 17, `in manner similar to the control of 'the tension between the channels 2 and 8 by `bellows 17 and its valve devices. The suction passing ll'irough bellows' 17d is normally decreased with relation to the degree of tension -maintained in channel 8. By meansy of pointer SS and the connections therefrom to `the valve, as 21, in bellows 17d, the operator may loo iro

bridge in well known niaiinei, and as lshown in Fig. 11 said pipes lead to corresponding valve devices`104 for controlling the corresponding pneuniatics 105 for the action in any well known manner, pipes. 106 connect ing the pneumatics with said valve devieesa/ there being one such valve device in each of the chambers 16a, 16", 10C, 16" for each corresponding tracker orifice and the corresponding pneumatic onlyone of said valve devices 104 being shown in cach said charnber for the sake of clearness.

A musical instrument provided with my improvements may be operated as follows Suction being maintained in channel 2 by the wind inducing bellows 9, and valve 71 .set in the central o'r normal position (as in Fig. 1) suction will be produced in` the various channels for producing suction in pipes 12,13, 14 and 15 for the operating neumatics, the de ree of such suctiony being regulated at wi l by lever 35 being shifted to produce the tonal effects desired, for instance, by .shifting lever 35 to the left in Fig. 1 bellows 17 will produce low tension and when shifted to the ri ht will producev high tension in manner be ore described.

It will be understood that the flow of air between channels 8 and 2 through bellows 17 is always in one direction and not reversible. Now, by shifting pointer 84 to the extreme left in Fig. 1, valve 71 will be shifted to the right and shut off communication from channel 8 through chamber 70 to ports El and 4, leaving communication from said chamber through the remaining ports thereof, and thereb causing suction from chamber 3, control iiig-the extreme treble notes through pipe "12. to be drawn through the cavity 71a in valve-71 and thence through port 4, through channel 4, and through reducing bellows 17, channel 5, and port 5 back to chamber and thence to the windinducing bellows S) through channels 8 and 2, thus producing a low'tcnsion for the extreme treble, or in other words, the remaining tlireelsections or Groups ot' notes beconie accentuated with relation to thc extren'ie treble; the middle treble may be similarly diminished in connection with the 'extreme iipp'cr treble by shifting pointer 84 to the second hole from the left in Fig. 1, whereby ports 3, 6 and 48L will bc brought into coinn'iunication by the-cavity in valve 71 and diminished suctionk will then beproduced simultaneously'through pipes 12 and 13 for all the treble notes by means of reducing bellows 17d controlling, as before stated, the How of air from channel 4to channel 5;' to reduce solely the middle treble the pointer lows 17 d and channel 5, as before exp ained,

and accentuating the other notes tire base and extreme treble. s i

/tthrce4 positions mentioned t e suction is t irough reducing bellows 17d from the channel 4 to channel 5, and it will be understood, further, that when valve 71 is shifted to the three positions at the left in Fig. 1,- pointer 84 being moved to the right for the purpose, the suction Will be reversed through bellows 17d, that is to say, thesuction will pass from channel 5 through bellows 17l t0 channel 4. When pointer 84 is moved one point to the right of the center in Fig. 1 the cavityl in valve 71 connects ports 6b and 5, inducing wind from pi e 14 and its-operating pneuinatics, throng the port 6b and chamber 6* and the cavity in the valve, through port 5 and channel 5, Athence throughY the reducing bellows 17 and in the ent through channel 4, port 4a and chamber 70",

through ports 8a and channel 8 to the windinducing apparatus, thereby reducing the tension of the middle base and accentuiftin the lower base and entire treble; bellows 1 will operate as a reducing bellows toreverse ,lar tension by reason of the fact that both ports leading into the bellows aresimultaneonsly regulated by the valve 22 and both in substantially equal degree, as distinguished from a bellows in which a single the direction of the flowing air under simi-y port is controlled by a valvev thereby erin1t.

when valve ,22 fully covers both ports 21 and 2lb, which would be the condition in a piano player equipped with ,my improve?,

ments when an extreme reduction of exhaust is desired, but the maximum collapseI mayi also be in `accordance with the tension of the spring 45 land such position of valve 22 v1n which both ports are not absolutely coyered, lwhen there would be some airpass'ingin the bellows and consequently less reduction. S0

tar as an air inlet is required to break the.,

partial vacuum immediately after the maxil` mumrollapse first above delined, which in.`

bleed,aii y7` suitable air inlet or bleed may be' this may be established by the piano player art is commonly called a provided. and vreason of the ordinary fitting of the `parts 21. or 22.. or both, with respect to the corre'- spending surface against which theact, such as is usually present in the woodwork used moved to 'the extreme right in Fig. 1, ports 7 and?)a will be brought into communication by the cavit yin the valve 71' inducing reduced suction t rough pipe l5 only, by reason of" reducing bellows 17d, and theA middle base and the entire -treble 'will be accentuated. In any position ot' valve 71 the highest possi` ble Vtension induced from the bellows 9 to the operating pneumatics may be, suddenly produced by operating valve 68, whereupon channel 8 will be thrown into direct communicationwith vchannel 2, irrespective of bellows 17, and all channels having their ports Vthen in free communication with `chamber 70a will be affected by such full exhaust from the wind inducing apparatus and cor` respoudingaccentuation, butv any channels that are then controlled by valve 71 will not be materially affected by the action' of such I direct communication between' channels 8 and 2-by reason of the fact that'the reducing bellows 17d governs the degree ofy exhaust through said channels. It a variation 'in the degree or degrees-"of suction that is controlled by the bellows 17d be desired, the pointer 88 may `be shifted to the left or right to thereby control the valve 21 in said bellows for producing more or less change from the normal governing suction in bel-f .lows 17.'

' ni rig. 1 4 1 have/,shown a modification lso that all the ports communicate with cham--v by which a different 'groupin for accentuation of roups or sections o notes may be provide for instance, valve "71 (which in F ig.\14 is shown in normal central position ber A70a giving high exhaust through all channels) is shown at the extreme right for uncovering all ports that communicate with chamber 70, -and valve 7 1l may be shifted to the left so that its cavity 71a can connect I ports '3a and 4, or vports 6a, 3 and 4a of the treble, or to include ports 6", 6, 3a and 4 of the middle base and the full treble, and then may-be'shifted one -position farther to the left and the exhaust will be reversed, that is `to say taking in ports 6a, 6b, v7a and 5a for the base and middle treble, the suction passing then into', port 4a being open to chamber a, the suction being drawn into chamber 7 OZl through 4at and 4, through the reducing bellows17d and from 5 through 5,

7, 6" and 6a, instead of as before being ers 84 and 88 and the lever 35.

drawn through 5 and 5 to and through the i bellows'17 d'from channel 4, and its om 3, 6a or 6b as the casfe` may be;

reducin port 4a by further shifting valve 71 to the left its cavitymay connect ports 6b and 5a, or 7 and 5, for producing varying suction in dil'er-- ent groups ofpneuinatics as desired.

In'order to guide lthe operator as to the shifting of pointers 84,k 88, one or both,

the perforated music sheets to be used may be provided with symbols in suitable manner which will indicate whenv and to what position said pointers are to be shifted for pro-v` ducing the accentuation desired inf the musical compositionbeing rendered.-

In Figs. 15 and 16 I have represented perforatedvmusic sheets upon which are sym bols to indicate accentua-tion of the composition being rendered by means of the point- The letters PP, P, F, FF, indicate that pointer 88 is to lbe adjusted to a position to the right or left of the center according to the position of such4 letters upon the music" and the numerals upon the said sheet X,

spondinglyto the right or left `to which the pointer 84 should be'adjusted with respect to the group or grou s of operatin pneumatics that are to e `.acceifituate through the medium of valve 71.

The large letters F, FF, on the music sheet indicate when the-lever 35 is' to be loperated to the right or left for loud or soft playing as represented by lthe letters PP, F, FF, FFF, inl Fig. 1. As-reprc# sented in Figs. 15 and 16, also, the 'perforations in the music sheet,`A corresponding to the notes to be accentuated I have indicated by the letters m.

. Having iiow described my invention what I claim is l. In a self playing apparatus for musical instruments, the comb'nation of a plurality' of operating pneumatics, a plurality of suction chambers each connected with suitable groups of said neumatics,

wind-inducing V means, a regulating bellows interposed i tween said wind-inducing ineans'and said plurality of chambers, and. a .controlling valve and-connectionsto govern the exhaust from said chambers through said bellows from one or more groups of said pneuinatics 1 at will arranged to direct suction through said bellows in one direction for one or more groups ot said pneumaticsand to direct suc-v l tion through said bellows in a reverse direction for one or moie other groups of`said pneumatics;

'2. In a self playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination of a plurality of operating pneumatics, a plurality of suction chambers each connected .with suitable groups of said pneumatics, channels connected with said chambers respectively, a

9.0 music sheet indicate the position correregulating bellows connected with a plurality of said channels, wind inducing apparatus in communication with one of said channels, a chamber, and suitable connections between said chamber and channels, including ports, and a valve in said chamber to control said ports, whereby said valve is adapted to connect certain of said ports at will to direct suction through said bellows in one direction for one or more groups of said pneumatics and to direct suction through said bellows in areverse direction for one or more other groups of said pneumatics.

8. In a self laying apparatus for musical instruments, t e combination of a plurality of operating pneumatics, a plurality of suction chambers each connected with suitable groups of pneumatics, channels connected with said chambers respectively, a regulating bellows connected with. a plurality of said channels, wind-inducing apparatus in communication with one of said channels, a chamber, and suitable connections between said chamber and channels, including ports, and a valve in said chamber' to control said ports, whereby said valve is adapted to connect certain of said ports at willA to direct suction through said bellows in one directionA s groups of pneumatics, channels connected with said chambersrespectively, a regulating bellows connected with a plurality'of sald channels, wind-inducing apparatus. in communicationI with one of said channels, a chamber, and suitable connections between said chamber and channels, including ports, and a valve in said chamber to control said ports, whereby said valve is adapted to connect certain of said v.ports at will to direct suction through saidbellows in one direction A vfor one or more groups of said pneumatics and to direct suction through said bellows in ously, and means to at will vary the degree of suction through said bellows.

5. In a self playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination of a plurality of operating pneumatics,\a plurality of suction chambers each connected with suitable groups of said pneumatics, wind-inducing means, a regulating bellows vinterposed between -said wind-inducing means and said plurality of. chambers, and a controlling valve and connections to govern the exhaust from said chambers through said bellows from one or more groups of said penumatics at will `arranged to direct suction through said bellows in one direction for one or more groups of said pneumatics and to direct suction through said bellows in a reverse direction for one or more other groups of said pneumatics, and means to at will control the degree of exhaust through said bellows in either direction.

6. In a seltl playing apparatus for musical instruments, the combination of a plurality of operating pneumatics, a plurality of suction chambers each connected with suitable groups of said` pneumatics, channels connected with said chambers respectively, a

- regulating bellows connected with a plurality of said channels, wind-inducing apparatus in communication with one of said cham nels, a chamber connected by ports with said channels, and a valve in said chamber and connections to control said ports, whereby said valve is adapted to connect certain 'of said ports at will to direct suction through said bellows in one direction for one or more groups of said pneumatics and to direct suction through said bellows ina reverse direction forv one or more other groups of said pneum'atics, and means to at will cause the full exhaust of the .wind-inducing means to communicate with said cha'mber and thence p kto the different suction chambers. A

t s. -Lbnis H. Mains Witnesses: T. I1". Bonanza, L. A. SWINTON. 

